Sheet feeding mechanism



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IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,374,698 srms'rFEEDING MECHANISM William Pechy, Manasquan, N. J., assignor to AmericanCan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationJuly 22, 1943, Serial No. 495,782

8 Claims. (Cl. 271-.42)

The present invention relates to a sheet feeding mechanism for a canmaking machine or the like and has particular reference to feedingsheets or flat blanks from a magazine at high speeds.

An object of the invention'is the provision of a sheet feeding mechanismwherein rotary feeding devices having continuously moving feed fingersare utilized for feeding flat sheets or blanks from a magazine, in rapidsucession and in timed relation so that a procession of such blanksmoving at high speed may be obtained.

Another object is the provision of such a sheet feeding mechanismwherein movablegauge arms cooperate with the feed fingers in'feeding theblanks from the magazine so that each blank as it leaves the magazinewhile traveling at high speed will be maintained in proper feedingposition and will be prevented from shifting in any direction that willresult in a jamming of the feeding mechanism.

Another object is the provision of a sheet feeding mechanism of thischaracter wherein stripper dogs release the fed blanks from the gaugearms while traveling at high speed so that the blanks may be readilyadvanced further in timed order along a predetermined path of travel.

Another object is the provision in such a sheet feeding mechanism ofreciprocating feed bars for advancing the stripped off blanks whereinthe feed bar are actuated by directly connected rotary, driving meanswhich eliminates lost motion or play between cooperating parts and whichinsures smooth uniform operation while traveling at high speeds.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a feeding mechanism embodying the instantinvention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is aschematic view illustrating the driving parts of themechanism, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the mechanism as viewed from the right in Fig.1, with parts broken away; i Figs. 4 and '5 are longitudinal-sectionstaken substantially along the, respective broken lines 4-4 and 5-5 inFig. 1, with parts broken away;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sections taken Fig. 10' is an enlargedsectional view taken substantially along the line IU-F-IO in Fig. 5,with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawingsillustrate a sheet metal blank feeding mechanism for a can makingmachine of the type, for example, as that'disclosed in United StatesPatent 1,770,041 issued July 8,

' 1930. to John F. Peters, on Roll bodymaker.

are bolted to a pair of spaced upright side frames 25 mounted on a base26 which parts constitute the main frame of the mechanism and which maybe a part-of the main frame of the can making 1 machine.

The stack of blanks A within the magazine 25 rests on a pair of spacedand parallel support rails 28 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7) which project intothe magazine at the bottom, The outer ends of these rails are secured to.a cros bracket29 which is bolted to a pair of spaced and parallelupright sub-frames 3| disposed between the side frames 25 and fastenedto a bed plate 32 bolted to the machine base 26.

The blanks A are fed from the bottom of the magazine 2|. When thelowermost blank in the stack is ready to be fed, its central portion isdrawn down into a bowed condition between its support rails 28 and isbrought into the feed line of the mechanism, as best shown in Fig. '7.This is effected by a suction cup which is disposedunder the magazine.The suction cup is secured to one end of an arm 31- (see also Figs. 4and 6) which is mounted on a pivot pin 38 carried in a pair of spacedbearings 39 of a, bracket ll secured to upright outer side webs 4 2 ofthe bed plate 32. The arm is formed with a passageway at one end whichconnects with the suction cup and atthe .otherend with a flexible hose45. The hose leads to any suitable source of vacuum.

The suction cup arm 31 is periodically rocked on its pivot pin 38 intime with the other moving parts of the mechanism to bring the cup 35into engagement with the lowermost blank in th magazine and to draw thisblank down into its bowed condition, as hereinbefore mentioned. Thisrocking of the cup arm is brought about by a depending lever 41 which isformed on the arm. At its lower end the lever carries a cam roller 48(see Figs. 4 and 6) which operates against a face cam 49 mounted on alongitudinal cam shaft The cam roller is held in place against the camby a tension spring 52. One end of the spring is secured to a pin 53carried in the lever 41 while the other end is fastened in a pin 54carried in a feed bracket 55 formed on the bed plate 32.

The cam shaft 5! is preferably journaled in three bearings, anintermediate bearing 58 (see Fig. 5) and two end bearings 59. Theintermea formed on one of the upright webs 32 of the bed plate 32 whilebearing 65 is formed on one of the side frames 25. The shaft is drivenin any suitable manner.

While a blank A is held temporarily in its bowed-down condition it ispushed out or fed from the magazine 2| in a lateral direction. Thisfeeding of the blank is effected by a rotaryfeeding device 1I (Figs. 1and 4) which is located under the magazine. The rotary feeding deviceincludes a rotatable spider wheel 12 (see also Fig. 9) having anenlarged hub from which pairs of spaced and parallel spider arms 14radiate. There are four pairs of these spider arms shown inthe'drawings.

The gear 19 meshes with and is driven by a piston 8| (Figs. 2, 33nd 5)mounted on a short jack shaft 82 journaled at its ends in a bearingformed in the adjacent subframe 3| and ina bearing bracket 83 bolted tothe bed plate 32. The

jack shaft is rotated by a bevel gear 84 which is mounted thereon andwhich meshes with and is driven by a bevel pinion 85 carried on the camshaft 5I. In this manner the spider wheel 12 is rotated in timedrelation with the cam shaft 5| and in time with the suction cup 36 whichi actuated by the cam shaft.

The spider wheel 12 carries a. plurality of hingeable feed finger units90 each of which includes a pair of transversely spaced feed fingers 9|formed at their outer ends with hook sections 92. Each pair of fingersis formed on a carrier block 93' (see Fig. 9) having two spaced andparallel lugs 94 which carry a pivot .pin 95. Between the lugs, thepivot pin extends through one end of a rocker link 96. The opposite endof the link is mounted on a rocker pin 91. carried in bearings 98 formedon the outer ends of the spider wheel arms 14.

The'feed finger units 90 travel round through a circular path of travelwiththe rotating spider which is mounted on a pin I06 secured in theside of the block. Roller I05 operates in a cam groove I91 (Fig. 10)formed in a stationary face cam I08 secured to the adjacent subframe 3|;

The shapes of the cam grooves I02, I01 in the tationary cams I03, I08are such that as the cam rollers IIII, I05 traverse the grooyes with therotation of the spider wheel 12, the feed fingers 9i come up behind thebowed-down blank A in the bottom of the magazine 2I and travel for amoment along a straight line path of travel toward the blank, as shownin Fig. 4. During this travel, the fingers engage behind the blank (asbest shown in Figs. 5 and 9). The suction cup 36 at that time releasesits hold on the blank and the fingers push it edgewise from under thestack of blanks in the magazine. Release of the cup from the blank iseffected in the usual manner by way of valves (not shown) in the suctionline which are operated in time with the other moving parts of themechanism.

While the blank is being removed from the magazine its forward or inneredge is supported by a pair of gauge arms I II (Fig. 5) having blanksupporting lugs I I2 which maintain 'the blank in proper feedingposition and which prevent inadvertent shifting 'of the blank in adirection that might result in a jamming of the feeding mechanism. Thereare two of these gauge arms 1 III located in front of the magazine 2|and disposed in spaced relation adjacent the ends of the verse rockershaft II5 which is carried at its ends in a bearing bracket H6 bolteddirectly to one of the side frames 25 and in a sub-bearing bracket II1secured to a bearing bracket II8 fastened to the opposite side frame 25.

The rocker shaft I I5 is actuated by cam action in time with the othermoving parts of the mechanism. Its rocking movement is brought about bya pair of spaced cam rollers I2I (see also Fig. 2) which are carried onrotor pins I22 (see Fig. 4) secured in a web section I23 of one of thegauge arms III. The cam rollers straddle and operate against oppositecam faces I25 of a continuously rotating thread cam I26 (Fig. 2). Thethread cam is mounted on the outer end of an auxiliary cam shaft I21which is journaledat its ends in the bearing bracket H8 and in asubbearing bracket I28 (Figs-1, 4 and 8) bolted to a bearing bracket I23secured to the same side frame 25 to which the bracket I I8 is fastened.

The auxiliary cam shaft I21 is rotated by a spur gear I32 (Figs. 1, '4and 8) which is mounted on the shaft and which'meshes with a gear I33mounted on a short sprocket shaft I34. The sprocket shaft is journaledin the bearing bracket I29 and in a bracket I35 bolted to the side frame25 adjacent the bracket I29. This sprocket shaft is rotated by anendless chain I 38 (see also Fig.

6) which operates over a driven sprocket I39 mounted on the sprocketshaft I34 and over a driving sprocket I mounted on a short auxiliarydrive shaft I42;

The auxiliary drive shaft I42 is joumaled in a bearing bracket I43(Figs. 2 and 6) bolted to the side of oneof the side frames 25. Thisdrive shaft carries a bevel gear I45 which meshes with and is driven bya bevel gear I46 carried on the blanks. As a blank is being drawn downinto a bowed condition as hereinbefore explained, the gauge arms move intoward the magazine and engage under the forward edge of the blank atn.

places adjacent its end as shown in Fig.- 5. The

arms are in this position when the feeding fin-' gers 9| come intoengagement with the rear edge of the blank as shown in this same figure.'After engagement of the feed fingers, the fingers and the gauge armsmove forward in synchronism and in the same direction-the whilesupporting the blank, the fingers pressing the blank against the gaugeto hold the blank in square while it is removed horizontally from themagazine and fed forward. It is this hold on the blanks during removalfrom the magazine that insures satisfactory results at high speedoperation.

When a blank is fully removed from the magazine 2| it is brought underthe control of a pair of movable stripper dogs (Figs. 4 and 5) whichclamp down on the moving blank and thus hold it against the feedingfingers 9| while the gauge arms I I move away to release the blank.There are two of these stripper dogs |5| located on opposite sides ofthe center of the path of travel of the blank and they may be disposed.at the ends of and secured to a long hub I52 mounted on a transverse,stripper rock shaft I53 (see also Figs. 1, 2 and 6).

The stripper rock shaft I53 is carried at its ends in a pair of spacedbearing brackets I55 bolted to the side frames 25. The shaft isperiodically rocked to swing the stripper dogs |5| through a down orstripping stroke and thence through a return stroke, by an actuatinglever I55 which ismounted on one end of the shaft. The lever carries acam roller I51 that operates against a cam face I58 of a continuouslyrotating cam I59 mounted on the auxiliary cam shaft I21. The roller isheld against the cam face by a ten sion spring IGI. One end of thespring is fastened to-the lever |55.while its opposite end is hookedinto a vertical pin I82 (Fig. 4) secured in a bracket I53 bolted to theside frame 25. The normal position of the stripper dogs |5| is shown, inFig.5. As an advancing blank A comes into position under the .raiseddogs, they move down onto the blank as shown in Fig. 4. It is duringthis movement of the stripper dogs 'that the gauge arms I move back outof the way of the blank to release it for further advancement.

The released blank, still moving forward under control of the feedingfingers 9| is received on. a plurality of horizontal support bars whichinclude a pair of spaced and parallel inner support rails |1| (Figs. 1'and 6) and a pair of similarly arranged outer guide rails I12. Theserails extend from the magazine 2| to the opposite end of the barsfeeding mechanism and guide the-blanks along a straight line path oftravel through the mechanism.

The outer guide rails I12 are bolted to the tops of the two side frames25., The inner support rails "I are secured to a pair of slideway gibsI13 (Fig. 8) which are mounte on the web sections 42 of the feed bracket55. These inner rails supportthe blanks intermediate their ends.

The slideway gibs I13 confine a horizontal and reciprocable slide I15which carries on its top face a pair of spaced and parallel feed barsI15 having depressible feed clogs I11 secured thereto at spacedintervals along their lengths. These feed bars pick up anadvanced blankfrom the ieedingfingers 9| and further advance it along the supportrails HI and along the guide rails I12 in a step-by-step or intermittentmanner.

The slide I15 and the feed bars I15 carried thereon, are reciprocatedthrough a forward orf eeding stroke and thence through a return' strokein time with the other moving parts of the mechanism, by a cam roller|8I (Figs. 4, 5 and 8) I which operates in a straight transverse grooveI82 formed in a boss I83 which depends from the slide. The cam roller iscarried on a continuously rotating horizontal feed disc I85 which ismounted on the upper end of a vertical disc shaft I86 journaied in apair of spaced bearings I81 formed in the feed bracket 55.

The disc shaft I85 is rotated by way of a bevel gear |9| secured to thelower end of the shaft which meshes with andis driven by a bevel gearI92 mounted on one end of a short gear shaft I93 (see also Fig. 2). Thegear shaft is journaled in a. long bearing I94 formed in the feedbracket 55. This shaft carries a spur ear I95 which meshes with and isdriven by a gear I96 mounted on the cam shaft 5| (see also Fig. 6).

Hence while a pair of feeding fingers 9|, in traveling around with thespider wheel 12, removes a bowed-down blank A from the magazine 2|, thefeed disc I85 shifts the slide I15 and its feed bars |16 back through areturn stroke and thus brings the first set of feed dogs I11 intoposition to receive the blank when it is fully removed from the magazineand when stripped from the gauge arms III.

As the blank is received on the support rails I1I andin the guide railsI12, the slide I15 and its feed bars I16 make a forward stroke. On thisforward stroke the feed dogs I11 engage behind the rear edge of theblank and take the blank away from the feeding fingers 9| and advance itone stepalong its path of travel between the guide rails I12.

As soon as the blank has been picked up by the feed dogs n1, the feedingfingers 9| through the action of the cams I83, I08, fall back slightlyto clear the blank and then pass around with the spider wheel intoposition to remove another blank from the magazine.

of the mechanism.

During this advancement, the blank is held after each step against.return with the feed I16, by stationary depressible hold-back dogs I91(Figs. 1, 6 and 8). -Dogs I91 are carried in a pair of stationaryhold-back bars I98 disposed parallel with and adjacent to the feed bars.These hold-back bars are formed as a single unit with end tie bars I99:At the discharge end of the mechanism the end tie bar is secured to across rail The ends of the cross rail are bolted to the side webs 42 ofthe feed bracket 55. The stationary hold-back bars I98 intermediate theopposed end tie bars I99 rest on top of the slide I15.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be,apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe thecombination of a magazine for retaining the stack of blanks,separating means disposed adjacent said magazine for flexing andpartially separating an outer blank from the stack in the magazine,rotatable feeding means disposed adjacent said magazine, a feedingfinger independently movably mounted on said rotatable feeding means,said finger being also movable with said feeding means through a curvedpath of travel for engaging behind the partially separated blank and toremove it from the magazine at high speed, and means disposed adjacentsaid feeding means for controlling the independent movement of saidfeeding finger as it travels along said curved path of travel.

2. In a high speed sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheet blanks fromastack of such blanks, the combination of a magazine for retaining thestack of blanks, separating means adjacent said magazine for flexing andpartially separating an outer blank from the stack in the magazine,rotatable feeding means disposed adjacent said magazine, a feedingfinger hingeably mounted on said rotatable feeding means and movablethrough a curved path of travel with said feeding means for engagingbehind the partially separated blank and for removing it from themagazine at high speed, and cam means disposed adjacent said feedingmeans for controlling the movement of said feedingfinger as it travelsalong said curved path of travel.

3. In a high speed sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheet blanks froma stack of such blanks, the combination of a magazine for refrom saidmagazine and engageable under antaining the stack of blanks, a suctioncup movable toward and away from said magazine for flexing and partiallyseparatingfrom the magazine successive outer blanks in the stack, arotatable spider wheel disposed adjacent said magazine and operating intime with the movement of said suction cup, a plurality of feedingfingers hingeably mounted on said spider wheel and movable through acurved path of travel, and cam means disposed adjacent said spider wheelfor controlling the movement of said feeding fingers as they travelalong said curved path of travel, said cam means being formed to guidesaid feeding fingers along a straight line adjacent said flexed blanksfor engaging behind successive blanks and for pushing them edgewise,individually and successively from said magazine at high speed.

separating from the magazine an outer blank in the stack, rotatablefeeding means disposed adjacent said magazine, a feeding finger carriedon said rotatable feeding means and movable through a curved path oftravel for engaging behind the partially separated blank and forremoving it from the magazine at high speed, and a gauge arm movabletoward and away from said magazine and engageable under an edge of theflexed blank opposite said feeding finger while said finger is removingthe blank from the magazine for maintaining the blank in proper feedingposition so that jamming of the blank in the mechanism will beprevented.

-5. In a high speed sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheet blanksfrom. a stack of such blanks, the combination of a magazine forretaining the stack of blanks, separating means adjacent said magazinefor flexing and partially separating from the magazine an outer blank inthe stack, rotatable feeding means disposed adjacent said magazine,feeding fingers carried on said rotatable feeding means and movablethrough a curved path of travel with said feeding means for engagingbehind the partially separated blank and for removing it from themagazine at high speed, a plurality of gauge arms movable toward andaway from said magazine and engageable under an edge of the flexed blankopposite said feeding fingers while said fingers are removing the blankfrom said magazine for maintaining the blank in aproper feeding positionand to prevent jamming of the blank in the mechanism, and actuatingmeans operating in synchronism with said feeding means for shifting saidgauge arms into blank supporting position and for releasing said gaugearms from the blank in time with said feeding means.

6. In a high speed sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheet blanks froma stack of such blanks, the combination, of a magazine for retaining thestack of blanks, separating mean adjacent said magazine for flexing andpartially separating from the magazine an outer blank in the stack,rotatable feeding means disposed adjacent said magazine, a feedingfinger carried on said rotatable feeding means and movable through acurved path of travel with said feeding means for engaging behind thepartially separated blank and for removing it from the magazine at highspeed, a gauge arm movable toward and away edge of the flexed blankopposite said feeding -finger while said finger is removing the blankfrom the magazine for maintaining the blank in proper feeding position,and stripper. means engageablewith a blank being removed from saidmagazine for releasing the blank from said gauge arm.

7. In a mechanism for feeding at high speed sheet material from ast-ackof such sheet material, the combinationiof a magazine for retaining thesheetinaterial in a stack, separating means adjacent said magazine forflexing and partially separating from the magazine the outermost of thesheet material in the stack, rotatable feeding means disposed adjacentsaid imagezine, a feeding finger carried on said rotatable feeding meansand movable through a curved path of travel with said feeding means forengaging behind the partially separated sheet material and for removingthe same from the magazine, a gauge arm movable toward and away fromsaid magazine and engageable under an edge of the flexed sheet materialopposite said feeding finger while said finger is removing the same saidgauge arm while maintaining it in engagement with said feeding fingerfor further advancement' by the finger, and actuating means foroperating said stripper dogs in time with said gauge arm.

8. In a mechanism for'feeding' at high speed sheet material blanks froma stack of such blanks, the combination of a magazine for retaining thestack of blanks, separating means adjacent said magazine for flexing andpartially separating from the magazine the lowermost blank in the stack,rotatable feeding means disposed adjacent said magazine, a feedingfinger carried on said rotatable feeding means and vmovable through acurved path of travel for engaging behind the partially separated blankand for removing it from themagazine at high speed, a reciprocating feedbar disposed adjacent said magazine and having a feed dog thereonforreceiving a removed blank from said feeding finger and for advancingthe blank further, and a direct connection rotatory feeding device forreciprocating said feed bar, said feeding device including a rotatabledisc operable in time with said feeding means, a cam roller mounted onsaid disc and operable in a transverse, straight slot formed in a bossconnected with said feed bar for eliminating lost motion in-said feedingdevice and for insuring smooth uniform operation while traveling at highspeeds.

PECHY.

